Dear Members,
The Board of Directors acknowledges the recent media coverage of a complaint by a former Ottawa Lions’ athlete against their former coach. The relationship between an athlete and their coach is one built on trust and we are deeply saddened and concerned that a complaint of this nature has once again affected our community. Saying that we are sorry that the Club was ever a place where this could happen is not enough; above everything, sport should be a safe and positive space for all.
Our Club and Board are committed to encouraging a supportive sport environment and respectful workplace that is free of all forms of harassment, abuse and sexual misconduct. We are also committed to being as open and transparent as possible, but it is imperative that we respect the integrity of any ongoing complaint proceedings including the privacy and confidentiality of those involved.
With that said, we understand that this can be very difficult for our members and alumni. Should they be needed, a list of local mental health resources can be found on our website. Further, there are several mechanisms in place for filing a complaint which can be found in our Club’s Policy on Harassment, Abuse and Sexual Misconduct, accessible on our website here.
We are committed to continuing to work collaboratively with all our key partners, stakeholders and members to support a safe sport environment.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Dumoulin
President, Ottawa Lions Track & Field Club